Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Kantelberg Trials. Photo Credit: Mother Tree Project & Program
Public tour at UBC’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest highlights new forestry science
On February 21, the public is invited to step into UBC’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) for Not So Clear-Cut: Rethinking How We Harvest Forests, a guided tour that brings cutting-edge forestry research straight out of academic journals and onto the ground.
Hosted by UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, the tour will explore the Kantelberg Trials—a long-term research project examining how different restoration practices affect large-scale planted conifer forests.
Participants will be given the opportunity to walk through active research sites, compare treatment areas side-by-side, and learn how alternative harvesting approaches could help shape more climate-resilient forests.
The research has drawn attention both within and well beyond the university. Previous media coverage highlighted how the trials are contributing to discussions around the condition of the managed forests can be enhanced for biodiversity and carbon capture.
UBC-renowned forest ecologist and New York Times best-selling author Suzanne Simard says the trials underscore why forestry practices must evolve. Her recent field research and forthcoming book, When the Forest Breathes, demonstrate that intact forest networks are critical to regeneration, carbon storage, and long-term resilience.
“Forests are complex, living systems—not timber factories,” said Simard. “What the Kantelberg trials show is that how we harvest matters deeply. Retention, structure, and care for what remains can make a meaningful difference for carbon, biodiversity, and the future resilience of these ecosystems.”
The February tour is part of MKRF’s ongoing effort to make forest research accessible, transparent, and grounded in place, connecting science, practice, and public understanding at a moment when forest management decisions carry global climate implications.
Event details and registration:
https://wildandimmersive.ubc.ca/special-events/not-so-clear-cut-rethinking-how-we-harvest-forests/
On February 21, the public is invited to step into UBC’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) for Not So Clear-Cut: Rethinking How We Harvest Forests, a guided tour that brings cutting-edge forestry research straight out of academic journals and onto the ground.